Aerodrome.



No. 827.1221. PATBN'TEIV) JULY 31, 1m.

3. B. KRAMER.

AERODROME. 2 sann'rs-axnm 1.

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g/Wu M8 No- 827,157. PATENTED JULY 31. 1906.

J. B. KBAiER.

AERODBOMB.

APPLIGATIOE FILED MAR. 23. 3.905

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Witness AEF-lODROME.

Specification of Letters Patent Patented July 31, 1906.

Application filed Karel] 23,1905. Serial No. 251,624.

To 0,]! 1r); on if Duty concern.-

Be it known that I. Join B. KRAMER, ii ritizen of the United States, residin at Lent'asu-r. in the count of Faidield and State'iif Ohio. have invented certain new and useful improvements in Aerodroxnes, of whirh the following a sper-itit-ution.

This invention appertains to mechanism for navigating air and embodying an aerostet or like r-ontrivanee to facilitate rising and insuring safety in sili hting.

As an essential part of l liemarrhine n vertically-arranged passage is provided, through which a eolunm of air is adapted to he owed in a downward direction, said passage being intersected by means of an inclined plane against whit-h the column of air acts to impel the machine forward, thereby utilizing the power expended to the best possible adventa I! both for lifting and propelling.

or a full desrrri )llull of the invention reference is to he had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

While the invention may he adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without. tiearting from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred L'HllJUflllllPl'll thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings in which-' Figure 1 is a side elevation of an acre drume embodyin the invention, a portion of the aerostst or like gas-field being broken away to show the vertit-sl passage and the fan-wheel cooperating therewith. Fig. 2 is ti perspective view of the aerodromc. l lg. 15 is a transverse section on the line :s a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view illustrating the manner of ad'usting the inclined plane hereinafter descri ed.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followin description and indicated in all the views (a? the drawings by the same reference characters.

The aerodrome comprises a. balloon 1, which may be of any construction, size, and capacitv and constitutes the gas-field or aerostat. he platform 2 or like support is suspended from the aerostat by suitahle nt-nns and supports the aeronaut and workingi mechanisms. A column 3 extends through the gas-hag or aerostat and provides a ver! icul passage through which a column of air is forced when the aerodrome is in flight. The column 3 may he of textile or like material.

A vertical shaft 4 is arranged within the col l movement of the aerodrome.

. l l i ulnn 3 and is provided at its upper end with u ian-wheel 5 and is adapted to be ('onnected at its lower end with a suitable motor, whereby the fun-wheel manhe rotated to force a column of air through the passe e to insure either usrent or safe nl'igliting of t to machine. A vane 6 constitutes a rudder and enables the marhintto be properly steered.

Anv suitable motor or operating means mav he provided for driving the fan-wheel 5 and propeller 7, the hitter being arranged at. the rear of the nnn-hine und lust upon a horixontul shaft 8. For i-onvenience a drivewheel (1 is illustrated and is in Ineshin relation with gttti\\llil'l$ ll) and H, the owner being set-tired to the vertical shaft 4 and the latter fast upon the shaft 8. A crank-shaftl2, provided with pedals, has a sproeketwheel 33, whirl: connected, by means of a drive-eliain 14, with a sprmdtet-wheel 25 on the shaft 16, carrying llll gear-wheel 9 The seat 17 forthe aeronaut or operator is mounted upon a post in substantially the same manner as an ordinary bicycle-seat. it is proposed to interpose a clutch between the gear-wheels if end 11 and their res .ective shafts to udniit of either or both of the fanwheels 5 and, I being thrown into or out of gear, as required. An int-lined plane 18 intersects the vertical passage inelosed by the column 3 and re celves the pressure of the downwardly-rushing column of air, with the result that the saint; is utilized for propulsion oi the aerodroine. The rear )ortion of the column 3 is open opposite to the plane 18, thereby per mitting the est-spin air to set on the vane or rudder 6, whereby he machine is made more res )onsive to the steering mechanism. The inclined plant- 15% preferably of textile material, and its end portions may be moved to admit of the column of sir passing downward without practically meeting with any ohstruction, thereby ierlnitting the machine to rise vertically wit tout having any forward movement imparted thereto.

The adjustment of the inclined plane 18 is illustrated in Fig. 4 oi the drawings, where it will he seen thiit the said plane has heen (:l'ianged from its inclined position and both its upper and lower edges have oeen brought suhstantially in line with the vertical shaft 4,

so that the air-currents passing down" through the roluinn 3 may pass stud plane 18 and not effect any forward or backward In order that advantage may lie taken of favorable air-currents for propelling the ma chine, a sail 19 is mounted upon the platform or support 2 and when unfurled is supported by means of a mast 20 and boom 31 in the well-known manner. Block and tackle 22 cooperate with the sail to admitof unfurlinfi the same. Springs 23, the tension of whie is to normally wind or coil into spirals, are applied to a side of the sail to automatically furl or reel the same when required. Vhen the operating rope 22 is slackened, the springs 23 come into play and wrap the sail around the boom 21.

The displacement of the balloon, gas-bag, or aerostat 1 may be such as to equal the load of the acrodrome when equipped for flight, including aeronaut and ap urtenances, or it maybe sl' htly below t e combined weight of the malfiiine, in which case the fanwheel 5 is utilized for ascent. When rising vertically, the inclined plane 18 is moved in the manner aforesaid to admit of the column of air passing downward through said vertical passage. After the requisite altitude has been reached the inclined plane 18 may be adjusted so that the descending column of air will impact thereagainst and being do fleoted rearwardly will assist in propelling the machine in themanner well understood.

Havi thus described the invention, what is claime as new is 1. In an aerodrome the combination of a vertically-arranged hollow column or air-passage, means for crea 'n a curren "of air therethrou h, an inclinef plane arr nged to deflect Sfilf air laterally, and mi ans for ad- 'usting said plane, as and for the purpose set 011 2. In an aerodrorne the combination of a vertically-a1ranged hollow column or airas sage, means for creating a circulation 0 air therghrough, an adjustably-inclined plane arra' god to deflect said currents of air rearwardly and provided with means whereb its end portions may be adjusted to admit o the siren rrents traveling past it in a longitudinal direction.

3. In an aerodrome the combination of a vertically-arranged hollow column or air-passage provided with arr-ear opening means for creating currents of air through said column, and a screen normally arranged across said column in an inclined lanewith its lower end normally ad'ecent the lower edge of said rear 0 ning, an means whereby said screen may e ad ustod with its lower edge away from the lower edge of the rear opening whereby the currents of air may pass the same in a longitudinal direction.

In testimony whereof I afl'ur my signature in presence of two e JOHN B. RAMER.

Witnesses:

(3. H. Zannavea, V Tnomum T. COURTRIGBT. 

